Scientific research that involves international collaboration has produced papers of greater influence, as measured by the number of times a paper is cited in subsequent papers, than has research without any collaboration. Papers that result from international collaboration are cited an average of seven times, whereas papers with single authors are cited only three times on average. This difference shows that research projects conducted by international research teams are of greater importance than those conducted by single researchers.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
Q.Type: Find the assumption
POA:
Find conclusion
Read premise again to understand where can the unstated assumption come from?
CA: Will address both premise and conclusion
WA: Weaken statement, New information, Out of story (Not related to link between premise and conclusion), Shows results of conclusion
Rephrase:
Research papers of greater influence are the ones produced with intl. collaboration. (Greater influence is calculated basis the no. of times a paper is cited)
Facts: Intl. collaboration: Cited 7 times (avg). Not intl. collaboration: 3 times (avg)
Conclusion: This gap hence proves that research projects conducted by intl. teams are of greater importance.
An assumption is an unstated fact that acts as a bridge between premise and conclusion.
Author says gap of 4 citations on avg means the papers which have more are of greater importance.
Let's look at the answer options:
(A) Prolific writers can inflate the number of citations they receive by citing themselves in subsequent papers.
New information
(B) It is possible to ascertain whether or not a paper is the product of international collaboration by determining the number of citations it has received
The author's conclusion is: Author says gap of 4 citations on avg means the papers which have more are of greater importance.
The answer mentioned above is not the assumption to reach conclusion. It is an inference the author wants us try racking our head around, but is a trap. We have to find a link between premise and conclusion. This is what happens after conclusion.
(C) The number of citations a paper receives is a measure of the importance of the research it reports.
Looks nice, talks about both, let's keep it for now.
(D) The collaborative efforts of scientists who are citizens of the same country do not produce papers that are as important as papers that are produced by international collaboration.
We do not know about importance of papers. That is not what the question has asked
(E) International research teams tend to be more generously funded than are single researchers.
Funding, again not the assumption to prove the conclusion.
Considering this, the answer should be C.